Previous wireless motility capsule (WMC) studies demonstrated decreased small intestinal pH in people with CF (PwCF) however the data is lacking on the colonic pH profile. We re-analyzed... Show morePrevious wireless motility capsule (WMC) studies demonstrated decreased small intestinal pH in people with CF (PwCF) however the data is lacking on the colonic pH profile. We re-analyzed previously published WMC data to determine colonic pH/bicarbonate concentration and single cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) to examine the normal expression of acid-base transporters in the colon/rectum.CF patients showed significantly lower pH and bicarbonate concentration values, particularly in the distal rectosigmoid region. There was no difference in colonic motility parameters between CF and non-CF subjects. SLC26A3 is highly expressed bicarbonate transporter in the colon and rectum, more so than CFTR. While dysmotility can alter intraluminal pH, observed changes likely originate from alterations in intestinal ion transport rather than colonic dysmotility. SLC26A3 is abundantly expressed in the human colon and rectum and may be a therapeutic target for restoration of bicarbonate transport. These findings may help better understand the gastrointestinal symptoms in PwCF Show less
In the first part of this thesis, we present an adaptive optics implementation for multi-photon microscopy correcting sample-induced wavefront aberrations using either direct wavefront sensing to... Show moreIn the first part of this thesis, we present an adaptive optics implementation for multi-photon microscopy correcting sample-induced wavefront aberrations using either direct wavefront sensing to run a close-loop adaptive optics system (Chapter 3), or use a model-based sensorless approach to iteratively correct the wavefront aberrations (Chapter 4). In the second part we present an analysis of the disintegrating exoplanet KIC 12557548 b where we model the dust tail generated by the host star's induced evaporation of the planet in Chapter 5, and in Chapter 6 we investigate the eclipse of 1SWASP J140747.93-394542.6 observed by SuperWASP indicative of an exoplanet hosting a ring system and potentially exomoons Show less
This thesis analyses the process in which Guatemalan migrants transit through Mexico towards the United States, emphasizing the role played by the financial, human and social capital, and taking... Show moreThis thesis analyses the process in which Guatemalan migrants transit through Mexico towards the United States, emphasizing the role played by the financial, human and social capital, and taking into account the differences in gender and ethnicity. The specific objectives are i) to examine the social demographic profiles and trends of the migrants; ii) to estimate their numeric dimension; iii) to explore the impact of the policy of migration control applied by the Mexican government; iv) to estimate the effect of the vulnerability and poverty levels with respect to the probability of overcoming the transit stage; v) to know who are more exposed to face risks and under what circumstances; vi) to investigate human rights violations and violence experienced by migrants; vii) to analyze the differences in the possession and use of the financial, human and social capital that depend on gender and ethnicity. A methodological triangulation was performed, using quantitative data from the microdata obtained in the Encuesta sobre Migración en Frontera Guatemala-México (EMIF Sur) and the American Community Survey (ACS), among others; as well as qualitative data from interviewed migrants who passed through Mexico. Show less
